What defines a masterpiece?

So would the Mona Lisa be a masterpiece?
According to your definition here Girls Girls Girls by Motley Crue could be a masterpiece.

crimson87 wrote: In your opinion:   What are the principal atributes a masterpiece must have? Do you consider that few albums deserve this label? Which is the genre that produces the most of them?

This sounds like an essay question on a university mid-term. Are we going to be graded on our answers?

I haven`t read any of the responses because I don`t want to be acused of cheating by the invigilators.

1. A masterpiece must have depth, ambiguity and above all virtuosity but not necessarily technical virtuosity. It must have atmosphere and elements which draw emotion from the listener. It must inspire more than one listen and with each listen new discoveries come to light.

2. Focus - Hamburger Concerto
    Omega - Suite
     Emerson Lake & Palmer - Tarkus
     Yes - Close To The Edge
     Jane - Windows
     Pink Floyd - Echoes
     Grobschnitt - Solar Music
     ( I could go on but I have to concentrate on the next question )

3. After classical music in all it`s eras and forms Art/rock Progressive rock.


   

A lot of the above points are very valid indeed, but I don't think a masterpiece is definable because there is also the subjective factor.

steve j wrote: Here's a simple concise definition of a masterpiece -   It has over 4.5 in prog ratings and has been reviewed by over 500 people.   This would mean we have just 8 masterpieces within the archives, seems about right to me!    You may lower the bar, but then you cannot have too many masterpieces or the definition of a masterpiece fall down.  Please feel free to discuss............................

I don't think it's a matter of numbers. A masterpiece is no less of a masterpiece if it's surrounded by many other masterpieces or if it's not reviewed enough. Buy yeah, don't lower the bar.

You know you're gonna feel pleasure and emotion hearing it the next time you listen to it, even if you have listened to it a million times before.

How many are few? I think there's a fair amount of albums I consider masterpieces, but still it's a tiny minority of ALL the albums there are (is that an obvious remark or what?)

Most prolific genre: that depends too much on personal taste; I guess my choice is metal in general, including prog metal (but that's also the kind of music I listen to most, so...).


Edited by Agadepáuer - February 15 2009 at 16:40

If you accept what our PA reviewers prescribe, there are just thousands of them out there.......... and do you know what, there aren't .

But I'm probably just a little perverse because I really dislike the term ' Masterpiece ' .

It may just be one of those things that allows non - prog enthusaiasts and our harshest critics to label us..................oh no, my lips can scarcely frame it and my fingers tremble upon my keybbard.....

ppppretentious ! !

I find that I don't often listen to a masterpiece!!!! I tend to put it away for a "rainy day" and then I find that I don't listen to it often!!!!!

Here's a simple concise definition of a masterpiece -

Oh what a strange question this is ...

There is no rule, law, authority or what ever who defines what makes up a masterpiece of progressive rock music - it's an individual decision
why don't see it like that (somewhat harsh): every band/artist has produced a masterpiece when releasing more than one efforts because one of them is their best.

Okay - I don't vote in this way - but I avoid to give five stars for more than one album which comes from the same artist.
On the other hand I give five stars for a band which is quite unknown when I'm sure it's innovative and absolutely nothing lacks

For me a masterpiece is an album / musical work that has the following attributes:

1) it is much more than the sum of its parts

2) it moves you profoundly

3) you keep going back to it no matter what